Winner in real casino, Total Fish online

[FredJones888]

I am a fairly new player, but I have discovered that I can win at the local indian casino regularly playing $1/$2 holdem. I do this mainly by trying to be tight/aggressive among tight/passive and loose/passive players. I buyin with $30 and almost never have to rebuy and spend most of the time up in chips.

When I play online, I have huge fluctuations in my account and eventually wipe out and have to rebuy. I am upset about this, and have considered many possibilities. Is is possible that there are just too many cheaters online ? Are people being herded into the online casinos just to get sheared by cheaters and professional players ? Has anybody actually been able to consistently take money OUT of an online poker room ? My online losses have wiped out my gains at the brick and mortar poker room and turned me into a net losing player.

[NotReady]

The short answer is low limit B&M is much,much easier than low limit online. Try this experiment: The next time you play 1/2 B&M, count the number of players seeing the flop and the number who make it to the river, then compare that to the same limit online. Also, count the number of players who call raises and multiple raises preflop compared to online.

[AliasMrJones]

It sounds like you haven't played enough either B&M or online to say much about either profit or loss. B&M at the same limit is generally softer or at least looser in my experience. 2/4 online is tighter and with better players than the 5/10 I've played in B&M. Online is beatable and the low limit 1/2 2/4 games just take good basic fundamentals to consistently beat. Note that doesn't mean you'll be ahead each session. You may not be ahead after several sessions. It takes time for the short-term impact of luck to be overcome by skill.

If you haven't read any poker books, I'd suggest starting there. Winning Low Limit Hold 'Em by Lee Jones and Hold 'Em Poker by David Sklansky are both good choices. I think WLLHE is particularly well suited to the online low limit beginner, but I've read and learned from both.

Also, the rake for 1/2 B&M must be killer...

[squiffy]

We've had this discussion many times. People who own computers and have internet access are in a very different demographic than many of the day-laborers and blue collar workers, or drunken tourists that may be playing in a casino. An online player is more likely to be educated and bright. And yes, isn't it easier to cheat online. Five to seven of your opponents, in theory, could be sharing information by telephone or something. And you wouldn't know it, would you.

But many people here claim to be making tons of money online. I believe them.

I am up $2500 from online poker and blackjack. Much of that bonuses, but also winnings. And I play micro-limits.

As with about 99% of posts. You don't say how long you have played, where, and at what limits. So no, I have no idea what your situation is or why you are in it.

Based on what little you have said, it's possible the players online are just better than the players at the Indian casino.

[squiffy]

Oh. Another possibility is that the live players aren't better or worse, but playing in a different style. Possibly the online players are just tighter. If you tell us what site. It makes a big difference. Some sites are much much much looser than live play. Some sites are much much much tighter than live play.

[eh923]

I'm glad you said that. I've been wondering about how online site compare to one another.

I play exclusively on Paradise 2/4 and 1/2...and it is WAY harder than the boats in KC, St. Louis, and Tunica (where I play 3/6, 4/8, and 5/10).

Which ones have you tried, and what do you think of each one?

[OrangeHeat]

Hi Fred,

Yes - online games are beatable. And yes people make money there - I personally make more playing 2-3 hours each night onine than I do at my full time day job.

Cheating - Nah I don't think thats why your losing. Why cheat at such small stakes?? And no I don't see it at higher stakes either (at least up to 15/30 - Party just got 30/60 and it looks straightforward too).

You have left out of your post how long you have played at B&M and online. If you have played a good sample size and still can't beat $1/$2 you need to actually study the game.

Buy HPFAP, TOP, Poker Essays, etc... Lee Jones is purported to be a good starter for low limits too. My guess is at B&M you are playing with lower skill players than online and winning - but that doesn't automatically make you a winning player online at the same limit.

Study the books, drop down a level while playing online (competition should be easier), and think about poker all day and night...well at least enough to analyze your play.

Welcome to Online Poker!

Orange

[FredJones888]

thanks for all your responses so far.

Here is some more info:

-I have read Sklansky's first book on holdem which is how I found out about 2+2 publishing and got to this site.
-I have played at Party Poker and Ultimate Bet online.
-I did slightly better at Ultimate Bet, I have no idea why.
-I have about 6 months of playing about once per week online for about 2-3 hrs at a time.

[OrangeHeat]

Hi Fred,

25 sessions is not a very large sample at all. You may be haveing a bad run.

Howver I still suggest re-reading HPFAP and pay special attention to the pre-flop section and loose game section.

If you follow those guidelines you should be able to easily beat the Party $1/$2.

Orange

[FredJones888]

I've thought about this a lot more, and besides the inability to go to a real casino, why should anybody play online ????